Ülgentürk, S., & Hocaali, S.Ş. 2019 Pest Status of Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) and New Records of Scale Insects from Northern Turkish Republic of Cyprus. Munis Entomology & Zoology 14(1): 294-300
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Notes: This work was carried out in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 2017-2018 as part of the investigation on the harmful species on Babutsa (Opuntia ficus-indica). It was found that Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) spreads aggressively in the the cacti cultivated for fruit and also infected some ornamental cacti in Famagusta Province, almost destroyed Prckly pear cactuses of closed Maraş Region. Diaspis echinocacti (Bouché) was found to be a relatively common pest species in ornamental cacti. Moreover, ornamental plants in the parks and gardens were severely infected by Pinnaspis aspidiastrae (Signoret) (Diaspidae) and Pulvaria floccifera Westwood (Coccidae). D. echinocacti, P. aspidiastrae and P. floccifera are new records for the insect fauna of Northern Turkish Republic of Cyprus. Information on biology, host plants, distribution, damage and control methods of these species, especially in cactuses, are given.
